Written by Mr. Tee
An elaborate and enthusiastic email kicks off this story. Joe, a fellow mini golf fanatic based in Minnesota, sent us a kind note in June thanking us for this mini golf website. Over the past 6 years, we’ve thoroughly documented the presence of mini golf in our home state of Minnesota. Our review of Eagle Lake Golf Center landed on Joe’s radar and prompted him to add that challenging putting course to his annual mini golf excursion for friends and family.
Joe’s Mini Golf Open pits putters against each other for three rounds of miniature golf in separate locations across the Twin Cities Metro area. This tournament/gauntlet came together through Joe’s planning and hard work in 2016. After an exchange of notes and suggestions of courses for the 2018 iteration, The Pink Putter and I were thrilled and honored to be invited to join in on the fun.
Our recommendation of Big Thrill Factory in Oakdale kicked off the daylong competition on July 21st, 2018. Our host Joe and his long-time friend Kristina accompanied The Pink Putter and me around one of our favorite mini golf courses in Minnesota.
Upon completion of the colorful collection of holes in the west metro, the tournament moved south for round two at Grand Slam in Burnsville. My solid 4th place showing at Big Thrill Factory attracted two gents in traditional golf garb, Jordan (white gloves) and Evan (red hat), to accompany us through the up and down Pirate’s Lair mini golf environment.
The Pink Putter had a solid showing but something came over me at Grand Slam. I played out of my mind scoring a 36 on the challenging Par 39 18-hole course. My 6 hole-in-one shots landed me one shot behind the leader, Elijah.
For the final round each year, Joe has consistently stuck with the picturesque and painfully challenging Centennial Lakes Putting Course. From the beginning, The Pink Putter and I knew this would be a trouble spot. Neither of us has a ton of experience on natural grass. Despite my 2nd place standing, I knew it would be tough sledding for us. The average length of the holes are, give or take, 80 feet. Landing anywhere near the course par of 51 seemed nearly impossible.
I set out in the final foursome that cumulatively scored the best through the first two rounds. Elijah, Jordan, Marilyn, and I sought to bring home the grand prize Green Jacket in our attempt to taste mini golf glory.
Marilyn (Joe’s mom), Jordan, myself, and Elijah faced a diabolical and tense final battalion of holes. After taking an early lead and scooting over the cup for an almost ace, Elijah took command with a hole-in-one on the 5th hole. Elijah fought off challenges from everyone in our group to maintain his lead to repeat as the tournament champion. Here he is pictured next to me and the two other finalists, in the prized Green Jacket, brown hat, and blue shirt.
In addition to the Green Jacket for the victor, special distinctions were bestowed for the Best Shot, the Wackiest Shot, and the Most Hole-in-One Shots. Elijah received a trophy for the Best Shot for his ace at Centennial Lakes. Katie won for the Wackiest Shot and she tied me for the most aces with seven throughout the day. For my efforts, I received a new putter that serves as a reminder of the thrilling day of mini golf.
Ultimately, the final scores of the day are not important. Winning is fun but getting to know, competing against, and goofing around with a crowd of over 20 mini golfers was the grandest prize. Taking a random group of people and tossing them together with mini golf as the platform to connect once again validated our belief that Mini Golf is For EVERYONE.
